South African 1500m and 5000m champion, Jerry Motsau, won the 10th annual Dagbreek Street Mile along Victoria street, on Wednesday night.
Motsau was competing against fellow runner, Luan Munnik, the Junior South African 1500m champion.
Jerry Motsau and Luan Munnik running alongside one another at the Dagbreek Street Mile event. PHOTO: Kesia Abrahams
Every year, the organisers of Dagbreek Street Mile fly down two top athletes to take part in the event. “We decided on Jerry and Luan because they both ran in Dream Miles in December,” said Francois Fouche, event organiser.
For Motsau and Munnik, both from Potchefstroom, it was their first time running the Dagbreek Street Mile. “We didn’t even expect to run here because we were actually preparing for the track season, but it was an opportunity to run just to change the scenery and refresh our minds,” said Motsau.
Jerry Motsau places first in the Elitist race in the 10th annual Street Mile.PHOTO: Kesia Abrahams
The street mile consisted of seven races with various divisions but, as SA’s national representatives, Motsau and Munnik took part in the last race, known as the Elitist race, where Munnik placed second.
“It was quite competitive. It is always tough running against Jerry, but overall, it was a really nice race,” said Munnik. It felt like a victory being placed second to Motsau, said Munnik. “I actually felt quite special because this was the first time I was invited to this [event],” said Munnik.
Dagbreek Street Mile is in memory of De Villiers Lamprecht, the first South African athlete to run a Dream Mile in Stellenbosch in 1964, said Fouche.
Jerry Motsau and Luan Munnik pose with fellow competitors after the race. PHOTO: Kesia Abrahams